What’s your plan for infant care and preschool? If you said, “I’ll start with one (child care) and find the other (education and preschool) when the time comes,” you might want to think twice. Separate services mean not only uprooting your child at a pivotal moment (causing emotional upheaval for everyone); it also means you’ll pay more than necessary. How can two programs instead of one cost more?  

Here’s how one continuous program from infancy through preschool can save you both time and money. 

You’ll preserve employer discounts: Many employers offer benefits-based subsidies and discounts because they know how essential child care is to work. But a preschool that operates part time — that doesn’t sync with the workday — isn’t always looked at the same way. It means you can lose discounts (and so, leave money on the table) if your education program is a standalone that isn’t seen as an answer to child care, too.  

You’ll cut down on fees: New registration and administrative fees are levied every time you sign up for a new service. So signing up for one program from infant to kindergarten saves the extra costs of being a new family every time they age up.  

You’ll eliminate double payments: Separate child care and education programs often mean juggling overlapping schedules — and paying for both. That can mean paying for two different solutions (maybe a nanny and preschool) on the same day. It can even mean paying for services that overlap if carpools require having someone on call to drive to and from school. Then you’re not only paying twice a day — you’re sometimes paying twice a day at the same time.  

You’ll reduce driving time: Those half-day schedules have another cost — namely the time required to change partners (child care to education and back, multiple times a week) halfway through the day. That adds up to a costly scenario where you’re either driving back-and-forth to the office several times a day or shortening the amount of time you have available to work.  

You’ll cut costs on enrichments (and get more from your tuition): Here’s a little secret about centers — they often provide extras (yoga, dance, foreign language) that are included in tuition — things that will grow with your child as they age up through preschool. If your plan is to introduce your child to such things after work hours, the extras of having a comprehensive center provide them for you will add up to savings in both money and time. 

Over the years, all of that adds up in both money saved and convenience. On the other hand, the comfort and consistency of a center and staff your family has known since your child’s infancy is worth even more than savings — for you and your child.  

Start your search early and look for a center that grows with your child. It’s a decision that pays off in more ways than one.